Catalysts for the production of 3-cyanopyridine

Abstract

For the catalytic reaction of 3-methylpyridine with ammonia and oxygen to form 3-cyanopyridine there are used compounds of the elements antimony, vanadium, and oxygen and at least one of the elements iron, copper, titanium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel, whereby the atomic ratio of antimony to vanadium is greater than 1 and which contain besides these compounds a lattice layer silicate and a highly dispersed silica. These catalysts are very selective and result in high yields and high space-time-yields.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the preparation of 3-cyanopyridine comprising heat reacting in the gas phase 3-methylpyridine with ammonia and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of the elements antimony, vanadium and oxygen and additionally at least one of the elements iron, copper, titanium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel where the atomic ratio of antimony to vanadium is greater than 1 and which contains in addition to these compounds a lattice layer silicate and highly dispersed silica and which has a BET surface area of 5 to 50 m 2  /g, a macropore volume of 0.1 to 0.8 cm 3  /g, and an average pore radius of 1 to 8×10 -7  cm. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein there is employed a catalyst wherein the atomic ratio of antimony to vanadium is between 1.1 to 1 and 50:1, the atomic ratio of antimony to said additional element when it is iron, cobalt, manganese or nickel is between 2 to 1 and 20 to 1 with the proviso that the atomic portion of said additional element does not exceed that of vanadium and when the additional element is titanium, the atomic ratio of antimony to titanium is between 1 to 3 and 8 to 1, the mixture of lattice layer silicate and highly dispersed silica is about 10 to 60 weight %, the ratio of lattice layer silicate to highly dispersed silica is between about 20 to 1 and 0.25 to 1 parts by weight and the silica has a BET surface area of about 50 to 500 m 2  /g. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 wherein there is employed a catalyst wherein the atomic ratio of antimony to vanadium is between 1.1 and 25 to 1, the atomic ratio of antimony to said additional element when it is iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, or nickel is between 3 to 1 and 10 to 1 and when the additional element is titanium the atomic ratio of antimony to titanium is between 1 to 2 and 4 to 1, the mixture of lattice layer silicate and highly dispersed silicate is 20 to 40 weight percent, the ratio of lattice layer silicate to highly dispersed silica is between 10 and 1 and 1 to 1 and the highly dispersed silica has a BET surface area of about 100 to 300 m 2  /g. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of between 340° and 440° C. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature between 350° and 365° C. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 2 wherein per mole of 3-methylpyridine there is employed about 2 to 10 moles of ammonia, about 20 to 40 moles of air and about 2 to 10 moles of steam. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 2 wherein the lattice layer silicate is montmorillonite. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 2 wherein the additional element is titanium. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 3 wherein per mole of 3-methylpyridine there is employed about 2 to 10 moles of ammonia, about 20 to 40 moles of air and about 2 to 10 moles of steam. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 3 wherein the lattice layer silicate is montmorillonite. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 3 wherein the additional element is titanium. 
     
     
       12. A process according to claim 10 wherein per mole of 3-cyanopyridine there is employed about 2 to 10 moles of ammonia, about 20 to 40 moles of air and about 2 to 10 moles of steam. 
     
     
       13. A process according to claim 10 wherein the additional element is titanium. 
     
     
       14. A process according to claim 7 wherein the additional element is titanium. 
     
     
       15. A process according to claim 11 wherein per mole of 3-methylpyridine there is employed about 2 to 10 moles of ammonia, about 20 to 40 moles of air and about 2 to 10 moles of steam. 
     
     
       16. A process according to claim 15 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of between 320° and 460° C.